Survey on Acceptance and Practice of Exclusive Breast Feeding in selected Quarters in Auchi Community

Abstract

Breast milk is the easiest, most nutritious, and healthy form of food for all infants for healthy growth and especially in their cognitive development and helps in fighting against some diseases, and reduces infant mortality during childbirth. Previous studies have shown that there is a high rate of breastfeeding but the rate of EBF is relatively low. This study is a cross-sectional descriptive study that surveyed the responses of 604 mothers who have breastfed and currently breastfeeding of which the majority of them are multipara. Aside Igbei Quarter which had already been covered, the other four quarters namely Akpekpe, Utsogun, Iyekhei, and Aibotse were demarcated into smaller enumeration areas for ease of coverage. A listing of the residential buildings was done and structured questionnaires on the acceptance and practice of exclusive breastfeeding were administered to females of childbearing age who have given birth at one point in time. Of a total of the 604 females, 500 (82.8%) of the women received teachings on EBF at different times and through different mediums while only 104 (17.2%) did not receive teaching on EBF. It is expected that having educated more of the mothers on EBF, a very large proportion if not all will accept and practice EBF, however, our result showed that 376 (62.3%) accepted and practice EBF, while 228 (37.7%) did not practice EBF. Despite the high rate of breastfeeding in the quarters, the acceptance and practice of EBF is relatively low less than 70%. Therefore, there is a need and call for holistic interventions aimed at improving the knowledge and practice of EBF in the study community.

Keywords: Breast milk, Exclusive breastfeeding, cognitive, infant mortality

DOI: 10.7176/JNSR/14-8-05

Publication date:May 31^st 2023